The tradition of using natural stone in construction has been preserved in our time. Granite, limestone, tuff and other rocks are successfully used not only in the construction of structures for various purposes, but also in finishing. One of the ways to decorate a constructed building and increase the strength of its structure is stone mosaic.

These are not only standard facing marble or granite slabs, but also colorful original works made from small fragments of different colors and textures. Each designer mosaic made of natural stone is, first of all, a work of art, and it will decorate the building for a long time and tell about the time in which its creator worked.

Material for making mosaics

Everyone can try themselves in this creativity. Having even a small country house or plot, you can create not only beautiful mosaic panels or intricately lay out stone paths from multi-colored pebbles, but also use ready-made modules from stone squares for this purpose. Any stone mosaic can greatly enhance a swimming pool, kitchen flooring or exterior walls. Each job requires certain knowledge and skill, therefore, if you decide to decorate your own house or area with stone mosaics, you should get acquainted with the basics of the craft and try your abilities in making a small

An ordinary walk along the river bank can bring a fairly large supply of various small stones for a future mosaic. Having sorted them by size and color, then thoroughly washed them and cleared them of dirt, you can begin to create a preliminary sketch. Already having the selected material and roughly imagining what a mosaic of stones will look like, you can create a real miracle with your own hands.

Technology of work

There are two technologies for making mosaic coverings. The most accessible and less labor-intensive method is the direct method of pressing individual elements into a viscous base. The reverse method involves laying out a mosaic pattern on a smooth surface and filling the finished painting with a special binding compound. After the solution has set, the product is turned over and cleaned from the front side.

Pebbles rolled in water are an excellent material for making such stone paintings. Pebbles selected by color, shape and size are placed in accordance with the sketch in a wooden or metal frame. A small notch around the perimeter of the entire frame will help the binder hold the mosaic within certain boundaries.

The height of the sides of the frame should be slightly greater than the thickness of the collected stones. Before laying out the mosaic pattern, plywood or cardboard wrapped in paper is placed on the bottom of the frame. A sketch of a future creation can be drawn on it.

Artistic approach

A hand-made mosaic made of natural stone can look different, in accordance with the artist’s imagination, but most often large elements are located in the center of the product in the foreground. Small details look best in the background or in the resulting spaces between large stones. Tweezers may be needed to place the smallest stones.

There is no need to achieve complete similarity with the preliminary sketch. The most important thing is to maintain color proportions and choose pebbles with an original texture. A piece like a stone mosaic will look beautiful and elegant in any case.

Connecting elements

All elements are first placed in a frame without a binder. Having finished drawing the mosaic, you should fix each pebble in its place with any glue. After this, all free spaces on the mosaic and the space between the frame and the stones are filled with epoxy resin. The layer of epoxy resin should be no thicker than 2-3 mm.

After hardening, the mosaic is removed from the frame, turned over and placed on a soft surface. The remnants of the paper backing are cleaned off from the reverse side, and a complete filling is performed. Then a suitable piece of fiberglass is laid out on top of the resin that has not yet had time to harden. A layer of epoxy resin is also applied on top of the fabric material. After hardening, the stone mosaic is turned over face up and covered with a thin layer of colorless varnish.

Other materials and methods

Stone can be made in the same way. Adding bottle or other broken glass to the mosaic design will make it brighter and more elegant.

A more complex art is considered to be a mosaic set of thin polished stone plates. Such work requires cutting stone plates and placing them in a frame that adjusts the size. The technology for making a painting from polished plates is similar to that described above. The only difference is that mosaics made from such stone elements require additional grinding and polishing after production.

In the same way, mosaic elements are laid on a cement base. Mosaics fixed with cement mortar can remain in contact with moisture for a long time.

Stone mosaic is an original way to decorate any interior. Patterns laid on a canvas made of natural stones allow you to create a unique antique atmosphere in the room. The process of making a mosaic is quite simple, and anyone can make their own special picture on their own.

Stone pictures are an easy way to artistically decorate any surface in the house. Solid natural material has many advantages. You can create your own exclusive drawing at no extra cost.

Stones of any color, shape and size are used for design solutions. The variety of materials allows you to realize a wide variety of ornaments.

An important advantage of using stones for mosaics is their strength. The colorful structure is securely fixed to the cement base. This structure and the special properties of the material make the paintings strong and durable.

Techniques for making stone mosaics

To create a beautiful canvas, you need to select and prepare the basic material. You can use a variety of stones - river, sea, mountain. Hardwoods from the garden or collected in the field are also suitable. It is recommended to use small pebbles - from 1 to 4 centimeters.

Before work, the stone should be prepared:

• remove all dirt using powder and warm water;
• wipe and dry;
• Arrange the finished natural material according to color, shape and size.

After this, you can proceed to creating the selected pattern. To do this, a sketch of the future painting is drawn on cardboard paper. For the further process you will need:

• dried river sand;
• wooden formwork 8 centimeters high and the bottom made of a sheet of plywood;
• adhesive solution;
• paint brush;
• solution of sand and cement in a ratio of 2:1;
• steel mesh with cells 10*10 centimeters;
• canvas is the basis for the painting.

Having made the blanks, you can begin to design the mosaic. Creating a canvas with your own hands is quite simple:

• the formwork lies on a flat surface;
• sand is poured into the middle of it in an even layer of 3-4 centimeters;
• According to the intended drawing, stones of different colors are laid out with flat edges up;
• the prepared canvas is treated with a thick layer of glue so that the edges remain dry;
• the lubricated canvas is carefully applied with the adhesive side to the mosaic;
• the surface is evenly smoothed.

After the glue has completely dried, the base should be carefully lifted and turned over with the stones facing up. If some parts are poorly secured or have fallen off completely, you need to glue them in place.

Sand and dust are removed from the mosaic. The formwork is also completely cleaned and the canvas is laid with stones at the bottom. The top half of the frame is filled with cement mortar. A reinforced mesh is installed on it, and then everything is covered with a second layer of building mixture.

It takes at least three days for the solution to completely harden. During this period, it should be moistened with water daily. After this, the canvas with stones is slightly moistened, and the formwork is completely removed.

The resulting mosaic of stones can be coated with transparent varnish. This painting can decorate any wall in the room. And your own design of the stone canvas will allow you to add a special unique look to the interior.

Mosaic is perhaps the most effective finishing method. Many small colored fragments, shimmering in the sun and forming various patterns, attract the eye from afar and can decorate absolutely any surface. For external cladding, the most popular mosaic is made of natural stone, which is distinguished not only by its durability, but also by a wide variety of colors and textures.

Natural stone mosaic

Stone mosaic on the facade

Mosaic close up

What is stone mosaic

Mosaics are small pieces of processed stone that are square, rectangular or irregular in shape. The most popular are square elements (chips) ranging in size from 1x1 cm to 5x5 cm, and in the form of bricks, sizes 1x3, 2x4, 2x6 cm. The standard thickness of the mosaic is 10 and 15 mm, although each manufacturer has both the thickness and size of the chips can vary significantly differ.

Option for façade finishing with mosaics

Finishing the facade of a country house - cladding with natural stone

To make mosaics, both hard and soft stones are used: all types of marble and granite, basalt, quartzite, travertine, limestone, sandstone, dolomite and others. As a rule, hardwood mosaics are used for exterior decoration, and softwood mosaics are used for interior decoration. The surface of stone chips can be smooth or rough, depending on the processing method. The mosaic acquires its smoothness and glossy shine during the polishing process, but to obtain a rough texture, the stones are treated with a tumbling or sandblasting machine.

Facade facing with stone

As you know, laying mosaics requires a lot of time and patience, especially if you need to lay out a complex pattern. Therefore, for ease of installation, manufacturers produce stone chips on a mesh matrix. The sizes of the meshes vary, as do the patterns on them, but the laying principle is the same. The seams, as in regular tiles, are treated with grout pastes.

Stone mosaic

Mosaic on the grid

Mosaic model "Colosseum"

Barcelona mosaic model

There is another type of stone mosaic - mosaic plaster. It consists of natural stone chips of various types mixed with an acrylic binder.

Mosaic plaster

Depending on the grain size, stone chips are divided into several groups:

• fine-grained – granule diameter less than 0.5 mm;
• fine-grained - from 0.5 to 1 mm;
• medium-grained – from 1 to 2.5 mm;
• coarse-grained - from 2.5 to 3.5 mm.

All granules undergo pre-treatment, as a result of which they acquire a spherical shape. This is necessary so that during the application process sharp edges do not scratch the surface. Stone chips have many colors and shades, so the coating options are also very diverse.

Decorative mosaic plaster

Pros and cons of stone mosaics

Why is stone mosaic so prized? After all, there are a lot of other materials that are more affordable, bright and attractive in appearance, and easy to process. To answer this question, you need to take a closer look at its advantages, the list of which is not so small.

Environmental friendliness. Since stone is a natural material, it does not contain chemically aggressive substances that are hazardous to health. For this reason, it is excellent not only for exterior decoration, but also for residential premises.

Facade decorated with mosaics

Durability. Natural stone is not afraid of temperature changes, prolonged freezing, moisture, or exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Mosaic has the same properties - even in unfavorable conditions, it retains its magnificent appearance for years, does not collapse or fade.

Strength. Stone mosaic is many times stronger than ceramic and glass, so it withstands mechanical stress better and does not become scratched or cracked. Of course, a strong blow can split the stone, but no homeowner will deliberately hit the cladding. The surface of this mosaic is resistant to abrasion and can be washed and cleaned many times.

Attractiveness. Each stone has its own natural shade and unique pattern, which are preserved in every small fragment. The correct selection and combination of such fragments allows you to create real mosaic masterpieces. But even a coating of identical stones is very decorative, thanks to the interesting texture and play of light on the stones.

Decorative finishing of the facade: mosaic

Simplicity of finishing. Despite the fact that laying mosaics is a rather lengthy task, the process itself cannot be called complicated. Working from a template, anyone can lay out a pattern or a small panel, and even more so with a mosaic on a grid.

Decorating the facade of the house with mosaics

Disadvantages of stone mosaics:

• high price;
• heavy coating weight.

Advice. Even mosaic plaster, containing only stone chips, places a high load on the supporting base, and for stone chips it is even higher. For this reason, such a mosaic is suitable only for strong, reliable foundations that are not prone to crumbling and shrinking.

Varieties of mosaics

There are three main stone mosaic techniques - Florentine, Roman and Russian. Florentine is used to create artistic images, and is rightfully considered the most difficult to perform. Flat stones of various colors and shapes are used here.

Florentine mosaic

For Roman mosaics, pebbles of light shades and polished, uniform stones of small sizes are used. They are used to lay out geometric patterns, floral patterns on the walls, and make patterned stone paths.

An inexpensive and practical type of finishing, although the heaviest. The material is very durable and resistant to various types of influences. The color scheme is gray-black, sometimes there are stones with a greenish tint. Basalt mosaic is widely used in finishing facades and plinths, paths, and floor surfaces. Basalt chips are often included in mosaic plaster. The limited palette is compensated by the shape of the mosaic chips: they are round, square, triangular, in the form of honeycombs and oval granules, with a rough and polished surface

DIY stone mosaic installation

Mosaic installation is done in different ways, depending on the type of material. But the requirements for surface quality are the same: the base must be strong, reliable, as smooth and even as possible. The mosaic elements are small, which means that even small flaws will be clearly visible on the finished coating.

Preparing the base

The area intended for mosaic finishing should be cleaned of dirt and dust and carefully inspected for defects. Paint and old plaster must be removed to a solid base, because the load from the mosaic is very significant, and the old coating will not be able to hold it. All cracks, even small ones, must be opened and re-sealed with mortar.

Cleaning façade walls

Tips for preparing wall surfaces

The next step is leveling. The walls are primed, a cement-sand mortar or a purchased plaster mixture is mixed, and it is applied in an even layer over the surface. If unevenness exceeds 10-15 mm, it is recommended to reinforce the plaster layer with mesh. During work, be sure to control the plane of the base with a level. After the plaster has set, it is necessary to grout it with a polyurethane or metal trowel, which will achieve a perfectly smooth surface. You can begin finishing only after the solution has dried.

Mechanized application of plaster will speed up the process of leveling walls

Using a plaster mesh on an area with large uneven areas

Grouting plaster

The façade is ready for finishing

Laying stone mosaics on a grid

Stone mosaic on mesh

Mosaic on mesh, material - marble

In addition to the mosaic itself, you will need:

Technology of laying and grouting mosaics

Step 1. The prepared base must be primed. If the surface absorbs the soil strongly, after the first layer has dried, apply another one.

Apply primer with a roller

Step 2. Measure the mosaic sections and make markings on the base to avoid trimming in visible places. You can immediately attach the section to the wall and mark its boundaries with a marker.

Step 3. Mix the glue: pour dry powder into water at room temperature in the proportions indicated on the package. Using a drill with an attachment, mix the composition at low speed for a couple of minutes, then leave for 5 minutes to mature and mix again.

Step 4. Apply glue to the wall with a smooth spatula and spread it so that the layer is about 4 mm thick and uniform over the entire area.

Apply the mixture to a spatula and form grooves on the wall

Step 5. Using a notched trowel, grooves are formed in the mortar and a mesh with stone chips is applied. Level the mosaic with your hands, press it to the surface, and then smooth it with a grater with an elastic pad. When facing curved bases, smoothing is done with a thick roller.

Press the mosaic canvas onto the adhesive solution applied to the wall

Advice from the professionals

Step 6. Lay the next mesh so that the width of the seam between the sections is equal to the width of the seams between the mosaic chips. If the seams differ in width, this immediately catches the eye, and such a mosaic looks sloppy. Having leveled and smoothed the mesh, you need to carefully wipe off the excess glue along the seam with a damp sponge.

DIY mosaic installation

Step 7 Having secured the first row, proceed to the second. While the glue has not hardened, the mesh may slide down slightly under the weight of the stones, causing the width of the horizontal seams to decrease. Plastic crosses for tiles, which need to be inserted between the sections immediately after fastening, will help to avoid this.

Using crosses

Step 8. Having completed the cladding, allow the solution to dry completely and begin grouting. The grout mixture is scooped up with a spatula and, holding it at an angle to the surface, the composition is applied in a thin layer. The mixture must be rubbed vigorously over the mosaic to ensure that each seam is tightly packed. The grout should completely cover the finish in a thin layer.

Mosaic grout

Step 9 Approximately 15-20 minutes after applying the grout, take clean water, a thick foam sponge and wash the mosaic. The water needs to be changed as often as possible so that after drying there are no streaks left on the stones.

When the seams are dry, all that remains is to wipe the mosaic with a dry cloth. At this point the finishing process is considered complete. Further care involves periodically cleaning the cladding from dust and dirt. To do this, just rinse it with clean water.

Laying a mosaic pattern on the wall

This method is slightly different from the one described above; this installation requires more time and skill. In this case, the mosaic must be purchased in bulk (it is sold by weight), selecting several types of stone that are combined with each other. First you need to think carefully about the pattern, draw a sketch, lay the stones on a flat surface without glue and see how the mosaic will look.

If the pebbles are small and the base is monolithic concrete or brickwork, you can do without reinforcing mesh. For large mosaics, especially those made of pebbles, granite and basalt, a mesh is required. The galvanized metal mesh is attached to the wall using disc-shaped dowels, and a thick layer of adhesive solution is applied on top. Next, the creative process begins: the stones are selected by color and size and, one at a time, pressed into the solution at least a third of the thickness. You should work as carefully as possible so that all elements are buried equally, at the same distance from each other, and the pattern is clearly visible.

Symmetrical ornament

Finishing with mosaic plaster

Mosaic plaster goes on sale ready for application, and before starting work you just need to mix it so that the crumbs that settle to the bottom are evenly distributed throughout the mass. The base should be pre-coated with a primer containing quartz filler, which will ensure reliable adhesion of the plaster to the surface.

Applying mosaic plaster

Applying plaster to the wall

Grouting mosaic plaster

Next, take a little plaster mixture onto a spatula and apply it from bottom to top, pressing the tool firmly against the wall. This plaster cannot be smeared and leveled for a long time, since the crumbs begin to crumble from such actions. Therefore, they apply the composition in one motion, try to smooth everything out with a second, and move on. Having processed about a meter of area, take a foam grater and rub the plaster with light circular movements. In this way the entire area is finished.

Mosaic plaster

After about two weeks, when the coating has gained strength, the surface is treated with a water repellent or transparent stone varnish. This treatment will create additional protection from moisture and enhance the shine of the stone chips.

Video - Mosaic made of natural stone

Video - Laying pebble mosaics

Video - Applying mosaic plaster

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See the beauty in ordinary cobblestones or how I made stone mosaics

September 16, 2016
Specialization: philological education. Work experience as a builder - 20 years. Of these, for the last 15 years he led a team as a foreman. I know everything about construction - from design and zero cycle to interior design. Hobbies: Vocals, psychology, quail breeding.

Greetings, my dear readers!

As a child, I loved collecting, as probably many of you do, a variety of pebbles. Nature, with her unbridled imagination, has done a wonderful job on each of them. All of them are unique and have only their own size, color, texture and shape.

While digging around my summer cottage recently, I suddenly realized that I had been collecting stones all my life, but now it was time to scatter them. And without unnecessary pathos, I figured out how to use their beauty. Namely, I wanted to lay out a stone mosaic on the site.

Ode to Stone

Nature has tried to give its unique image to each of the stones. They can be:

• plain and multi-colored;
• speckled, patterned, striped, with veins, with shiny splashes, etc.;
• thin and long;
• round and thick;
• flat, like coins.

The same Mother Nature tested her products for strength to the maximum. Stormy waves of oceans and seas or rapid river flows, tearing angular cobblestones from the base, grind them together, cutting and polishing them like a talented jeweler.

Only after such careful centuries-old “cutting” by water are pebbles with an absolutely smooth surface thrown onto the sea or river shore by waves. Only the strongest pebbles reach such a finale.

The varied appearance, durability and strength make such large gravel and small pebbles an ideal basis for reproducing original mosaic patterns or entire compositions.

As I have personally seen, the process of recreating a natural stone mosaic is extremely exciting, but it will require your imagination, a certain investment of time and, of course, patience.

How to make a mosaic

In order for your work to last for many years, it is extremely important to prepare a reliable foundation for it.

How to prepare the base for your masterpiece

1. First I had to remove the fertile (top) layer of soil. I want to warn you right away that the minimum depth of the trenches should be 25 centimeters. If the mosaic will undergo increased mechanical loads (for example, cars will drive over it), the depth will have to be increased.
2. In order for the flooring to be stable, it must be reinforced with a curb. I laid it out of paving stones, but you can also make an edging out of boulders. In case of expected increased loads, it should be placed on a cement-sand mortar.
3. Next, I poured a load-bearing cushion of crushed stone (about 15 centimeters) into the trench and compacted it thoroughly.
4. After that, on top of the crushed stone, I poured a 10-centimeter layer of a dry mixture of cement and sand. This is the main field of activity. The selected pebbles should be carefully pressed into it. And then pour plenty of water over them.

Mosaic manufacturing technology

I recommend that you initially lay out the design in the sand using the appropriate template. And only after that transfer the composition to the base from the solution. If you are sure that the eye will not let you down, lay out the mosaic without preliminary “rehearsals”.

Another piece of advice that I have “suffered” from my own experience is that for your first masterpiece, it is best for you to choose a small area, away from significant places on the site, and a simple drawing.

1. Place the pebbles, according to the composition, on the dry sand-cement mixture.
2. Place the board on top of the drawing and press gently. This will make the coating more even.
3. The stones should protrude from the base by 4-5 centimeters. If the need arises, add more dry mixture.
4. Next, pour water over the drawing. The best way is from a spray bottle.
5. In a week you will be able to walk on the mosaic. During this time, cover it with film from rain and hot sun.

Creative process

Separate step-by-step slabs became my “test of the pen”. I used a large plastic tray for making them.

1. To produce such tiles you will need a cement-sand mortar. Fill a flexible mold with it, the layer should be about 5 cm. Next, level the surface.

1. Here you can come up with a drawing on a whim or draw it up in advance. To keep the pebbles firmly, it is better to press them with the edge rather than the flat side.
2. While the composition dries, cover it with film from the sun's rays.
3. Wait at least 24 hours before removing tiles from the tray. Wash off the remaining solution on it or wipe it off with a brush.
4. Your products will dry completely after two weeks.

A little about what else can be made from pebbles.

1. And a simple laying of one-color, equal-sized pebbles across or along the composition already looks beautiful. But long, wide pebbles of different shapes and colors are better suited for mosaics.
2. Next to the light flowers made of pebbles, you can lay out flowing ribbons of brown, red, black, beige and gray gravel. Such an original pattern will add exquisite elegance to the garden area.
3. Empty spaces between slabs or unpaved areas of the site are ideal sites for stone mosaics; its design and shape are limited only by your imagination.

For complex designs and patterns, you will need a significant supply of pebbles and gravel of different shapes and colors. The mosaic can be complemented with inserts of multi-colored broken glass.

Conclusion

By decorating your site with stone mosaics, you will arrange it in an original way, while increasing the comfort of your property. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments. Therefore, I say goodbye, and good luck to you in your endeavors.

September 16, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

Mosaic covering is a win-win option if you want to create a truly unusual and original interior. The antique charm of hand-made “pictures” made of natural stone will definitely not leave anyone indifferent! Do you dream of creating a mosaic with your own hands? Our instructions will help you implement this idea.

Features of stone mosaics

Unlike other types of mosaics made from glass and ceramics, stone “pictures” have their own undeniable advantages. The first and most important thing is the ability to create a drawing and select the material with your own hands without extra investment.

In addition, natural material provides considerable scope for design ideas due to a wide range of types of stones. Another attractive property is the durability and strength of the mosaic, provided by the cement base of the structure.

Materials and tools

• Pebble
• river sand
• Canvas or burlap
• Nails
• Boards
• Cement
• Clear nail polish
• Hammer
• Hacksaw
• Brush
• Containers for glue and solution
• Brush.

Creation technology

First of all, stock up on suitable material. These can be stones from the seashore, streams, rivers, mountain slopes, vegetable gardens and arable lands. Choose small pebbles (1-4 cm in size)

Wash the collected stones in warm water with washing powder or soap, using a brush to remove dirt from cracks and recesses.

Sort the cleaned material by size and color.

Prepare a square formwork from boards with a side height of 7-8 cm and a plywood bottom

Prepare sand. You can take regular river water if you first dry and sift it

Place the formwork on the table and fill it with 3-4 cm of sand

Lay the stones on the sand according to the sketch. Try to keep them tight, with the flat edges facing up.

Prepare a solution of wood glue in a separate container. For greater expressiveness, it can be diluted with water-based paint

Apply a thick layer of glue to the canvas without touching the edges

After that, place the canvas with the coated side on the mosaic and smooth the surface with your palm

Once the glue has dried, carefully lift the canvas and turn it over with the stones facing up. If small pieces do not stick, re-insert them into the mosaic set

Remove remaining grains of sand with a soft brush

Pour the sand into a bucket, and put a canvas with stones into the formwork

Mix it until thick and pour it into the formwork, covering half the volume.

Lay a reinforcing steel mesh with a cell size of 100x100 mm, and then fill in the remaining layer. The mesh will prevent the slab from breaking.

For 2-3 days, moisten the solution generously with water to increase its strength.

After drying, turn the formwork over, moisten the canvas with a damp sponge and carefully remove it

Coat the stones with a clear varnish to prevent them from fading over time.

You can decorate any surface with the resulting mosaic tiles made from natural stones.